90 - I Got Engaged to a Blind Duke
Marin paused while having dinner with Loanna after a long time.
“Who is it?”
“Don’t you remember Mrs. Jasmine, your mother’s old friend?”
“Has she returned to the Empire?”
She was Loanna’s close friend whom Marin had met a few times when she was young. She was also the first person she thought of when her family fell apart and desperately needed help.
But unfortunately, she had been out of the Empire for several years, following her husband who worked in diplomacy.
“Yes. She came back to the Empire and tried to find us, but she couldn’t. Then, as our family became known again through your engagement, she sent a letter this time.”
“That’s really good.”
She was genuinely happy that her mother had regained a connection that had been severed due to the employment engagement.
“Jasmine wants to invite us to the Southern estate. You’ll be leaving for the capital soon for Dia’s Debutante, so I thought we could go around that time.”
“That’s a good idea. The South is warmer than here, so it would be good for you to relax. Have a good time with your friend after a long time.”
The South, which is warmer even in winter than the cold West, was better for Loanna in many ways. Before her father passed away, she often spent the winter in the South with him.
She was already worried about leaving her mother alone here when she left for the capital.
“Mom, let’s get a dress before we leave!”
Marin decided to spend the money she received from the Duke to her heart’s content for Loanna, who was going to meet her friend after a long time.
\ \ \
She had dresses made to go to the capital, did dawn training, read reports to the Duke, taught Rubiana and Peridot, and read fairy tales at night to put the Duke to sleep.
Fortunately, Peridot was able to sleep well on his own without having to read fairy tales.
She saw Loanna off as she left for the South, and often had tea time with Dia.
She also avoided Surenne, who kept asking her to drink.
Then one day, Marin came to the Duke’s office late at night to put him to sleep and looked at the Duke with a surprised face.
It was because the Duke suddenly announced that he was going hunting.
“Hunting? What hunting in this winter?”
“Because I need a gift.”
Marin opened her eyes wide and moved her lips. Who was he giving a gift to that he would go on a winter hunt to prepare it? Was it fur or something?
The Duke nonchalantly got up from his seat and put his Sword on his waist.
“I’ll be back in about a week. Then the schedule will be roughly in line with the day you go to the capital.”
“You’re leaving suddenly tonight, at this hour?”
“I have to avoid the eyes of spies. The knights are already waiting in the forest. To the outside world, I’m still here, so visit me every day with Olive.”
“Ah……”
What should I say? Have a safe trip. Don’t get hurt. Bring back a lot of game?
“Do you really have to go?”
Among the many farewell greetings, the words that popped out were the ones that held him back.
Marin bit her lower lip and blamed herself.
“Yes. It’s a gift I have to give.”
A chilling smile formed on his lips.
Marin opened her eyes wide. He’s making such a scary face while giving a gift?
“I’ll be back.”
“Be, be careful on your way.”
He answered the words she whispered softly to his departing back as if talking to herself.
“Yes.”
Marin opened her eyes wide, then smiled bashfully.
Time flew by, and the day to leave for the capital arrived. Fortunately, the Duke arrived late the night before she left.
In front of the main building.
It was so crowded that all the servants were dismissed, but Sebas Butler and Page Head Maid stayed until the end, even though she said it was okay.
“If you feel even a little sick, you must receive treatment from the Attending physician who is accompanying you.”
The Butler said again what he had said as if he were dealing with a granddaughter leaving on a long journey.
“Yes, I know.”
Page Head Maid nodded from the side as if agreeing.
“And just a moment, this way.”
The Butler looked around and called her to one side. When Marin approached, the Butler handed her a rolled-up black leather.
Marin carefully unwrapped the leather.
Inside was a silver dagger, slightly longer than her palm.
Marin looked at him with wide eyes.
“Why this?”
“I was going to give it to you after teaching you dagger skills. But I’m giving it to you like this. His Grace will always protect you, but just in case. I just hope you don’t have to use it.”
The Butler’s wrinkled eyes trembled with worry.
Surenne’s secret client was her teacher.
The dagger was very light. It seemed to have been made lightly because she couldn’t lift a heavy Sword.
“Thank you, Teacher.”
Marin gratefully accepted his kindness.
“Throw it when you think you can’t win.”
The Butler said with a voice full of concern until the end.
“Yes.”
Marin, who had returned to her original position, looked at the Butler and Head Maid.
“Butler, Head Maid. Please take good care of the remaining children.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Don’t worry.”
The two answered with intense eyes as if they would definitely do so.
Marin responded with a smile and held tightly in her hand the sleeping pill she had received from the Attending physician in advance. She was going to take the sleeping pill as soon as she got into the Four-wheeled carriage.
She could move around a little more comfortably here because it was under the Duke’s influence, but from the moment she went to the capital with the Duke, all eyes would be on her.
She had to ride in a Four-wheeled carriage and accompany Dia when she went to the Imperial Palace for her Debutante.
She was going to practice riding in a Four-wheeled carriage, even if she had to take sleeping pills, to get used to it.
Yuria, who was quietly next to her, took the rolled-up leather in Marin’s hand.
“I’ll put it in the luggage.”
“Thank you.”
However, Yuria’s face was slightly stiff as she packed her things.
“Yuria, are you okay?”
“I guess I’m nervous because it’s my first time leaving the West. But I’m glad Uvis is going with me.”
Several knights were selected to escort them to the capital, and Uvis was one of them.
Uvis also said that he was very nervous because it was his first time going to the capital.
“It’s my first time in the capital too, so I feel the same way.”
Marin opened her mouth to relieve Yuria’s tension.
“Is it your first time too, Miss?”
“Yes.”
It was the moment when a faint smile formed on Marin’s lips.
“Marin Teacher.”
When she turned around at the sound of someone calling from behind, she saw Dia, Garnet, Rubiana, and even Peridot all standing together. The children who came closer spoke in turn.
“Marin Teacher, have a safe trip. Please take good care of our sister.”
Rubiana, whose eyes were red, greeted her in a gloomy voice.
She cried even when Loanna went to the South, she was a very affectionate child.
Following her, Garnet spoke cheerfully.
“Senior, please take good care of our sister!”
“Teacher, please get along with our sister!”
Peridot put his hand on his belly button and greeted her politely.
Marin met the eyes of Rubiana, Garnet, and Peridot one by one and hugged all three of them. She had become very fond of the children while spending time with them.
“Stay healthy!”
“Don’t worry.”
“Heeing, I want to go too.”
“Ruby Sister, don’t cry, even I’m not crying.”
Peridot pointed out Rubiana in an adult-like manner and tightly grabbed Marin’s skirt.
Marin hugged the children even tighter because they were so cute, but Dia opened her mouth with a look that she couldn’t stop them.
“Teacher, you have to leave soon.”
“Dia, should we take our kids with us? How can I leave these kids behind?”
Marin, who had become very close to Dia, began to speak comfortably to her.
“Teacher.”
Dia called Marin as if holding back a laugh.
“It’s Teacher who won’t let us go.”
Peridot said, slightly letting go of her skirt.
“Yes, that’s right. I can’t let go.”
“Isn’t it suffocating? Please let us go now?”
Garnet turned back into a prickly cat.
In the end, Marin let go of the children with a regretful hand.
“Teacher let us go quickly anyway. Right? My sister didn’t let me go until I said I was hungry from morning.”
“Yes.”
When she looked at Dia after hearing Rubiana and Peridot’s conversation, Dia looked at the distant mountains with an embarrassed face.
But only for a moment, Dia stared at Marin with a worried gaze.
“Teacher. Are you going to be okay riding in the Four-wheeled carriage?”
“Thank you for your concern. I’m going to sleep as soon as I get in the Four-wheeled carriage.”
At Marin’s words, Dia nodded slightly as if she had noticed something.
“If Teacher is sleeping, I can embroider next to you.”
Dia smiled, slightly lifting a rattan embroidery bag.
It was then.
Heeing.
A black Four-wheeled carriage with the Vines Duke’s family crest largely drawn on it approached and stopped in front, along with a long horse cry.
